Report on Kirishimayama (Japan) — 23 October-29 October 2013
Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 23 October-29 October 2013
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.
Please cite this report as:
Global Volcanism Program, 2013. Report on Kirishimayama (Japan) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 23 October-29 October 2013. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.
Kirishimayama
Japan
31.934°N, 130.862°E; summit elev. 1700 m
All times are local (unless otherwise noted)
On 22 October the JMA reported that no eruptions had been detected at Shinmoe-dake (Shinmoe peak), a stratovolcano of the Kirishima volcano group, since the eruption on 7 September 2011. Earthquake activity and sulfur dioxide emissions were both below the detection limit. The Alert Level was lowered to 2 (on a scale of 1-5).
Geological Summary. Kirishimayama is a large group of more than 20 Quaternary volcanoes located north of Kagoshima Bay. The late-Pleistocene to Holocene dominantly andesitic group consists of stratovolcanoes, pyroclastic cones, maars, and underlying shield volcanoes located over an area of 20 x 30 km. The larger stratovolcanoes are scattered throughout the field, with the centrally located Karakunidake being the highest. Onamiike and Miike, the two largest maars, are located SW of Karakunidake and at its far eastern end, respectively. Holocene eruptions have been concentrated along an E-W line of vents from Miike to Ohachi, and at Shinmoedake to the NE. Frequent small-to-moderate explosive eruptions have been recorded since the 8th century.